# Part IV – Gifts

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## § 6-26 Solicitation prohibited.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-26 (2026)

(a) Except as permitted under subsection (b) of this section, a public servant may not solicit or facilitate the solicitation of a gift, whether on the public servant’s own behalf or on behalf of another person.

(b) The prohibition in subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a solicitation if:

  (1) it is for the benefit of an official governmental program or activity or a City-endorsed charitable function or activity; and

  (2) it either:

    (i) is expressly allowed by a rule or regulation of the Ethics Board; or

    (ii) otherwise has been approved in advance by the Ethics Board, on the written request of the public servant and his or her agency.

*History: Ord. 04-795*

*History: Ord. 10-267*

*History: Ord. 15-373*

*History: *

## § 6-27 Acceptance prohibited.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-27 (2026)

Except as otherwise provided in this Part IV, a public servant may not knowingly accept any gift, directly or indirectly, from any person that the public servant knows or has reason to know:

(1) does or seeks to do business of any kind, regardless of amount:

  (i) with the public servant’s agency; or

  (ii) with another person in connection with or in furtherance of a contract that is being negotiated or has been entered into by the other person with the public servant’s agency;

(2) engages or seeks to engage in an activity that is regulated or controlled by the public servant’s agency;

(3) is or, within the preceding 12 months, has been a lobbyist with respect to matters within the jurisdiction of the public servant;

(4) has a financial interest that might be substantially and materially affected, in a manner distinguishable from the public generally, by the performance or nonperformance of the public servant’s official duties;

(5) is an association, or any entity acting on behalf of an association, that is engaged only in representing counties or municipal corporations; or

(6) is an owner, partner, officer, director, trustee, employee, or agent of any person described in items (1) through (4) of this section.

*History: Ord. 04-795*

*History: Ord. 10-267*

*History: Ord. 15-373*

*History: Ord. 16-503*

*History: *

## § 6-28 Qualified exemptions.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-28 (2026)

Subject to <cite data-path="|8|§6-29">§ 6-29 {“Exemption limitations”} of this subtitle</cite>, the prohibitions in <cite data-path="|8|§6-27">§ 6-27 {“Acceptance prohibited”} of this subtitle</cite> do not apply to the unsolicited receipt of:

(1) food or beverages received and consumed by the recipient in the presence of the donor or sponsoring entity;

(2) gifts or awards that have insignificant monetary value, as defined by rule or regulation of the Board;

(3) in return for a speaking engagement or participation on a panel at a meeting, reasonable expenses, actually incurred and verifiable, for food, travel, lodging, child or dependant care, and scheduled entertainment of the public servant, but only if:

  (i) the expenses are associated with the meeting; and

  (ii) to the extent the expenses are anticipated to exceed $500, the public servant has notified the Ethics Board before attending the meeting;

(4) tickets or free admission given to an elected official to attend a specific charitable, cultural, or political event, if given by the person sponsoring or conducting the event as a courtesy or ceremony to the office;

(5) a specific gift or class of gifts that the Ethics Board exempts on a written finding that acceptance of the gift or class of gifts would not be detrimental to the impartial conduct of City business; or

(6) gifts from a spouse, parent, child, or sibling.

*History: Ord. 04-795*

*History: Ord. 11-484*

*History: Ord. 15-372*

## § 6-29 Exemption limitations.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-29 (2026)

The exemptions specified in <cite data-path="|8|§6-28">§ 6-28 {“Qualified exemptions”} of this subtitle</cite> do not apply to any gift if:

(1) the gift would tend to impair the recipient’s impartiality and independent judgment; or

(2) for a gift of significant value, as defined by rule or regulation of the Board:

  (i) the gift would give the appearance of impairing the recipient’s impartiality and independent judgment; or

  (ii) the recipient believes or has reason to believe that the gift is designed to impair his or her impartiality and independent judgment.

*History: Ord. 04-795*

*History: Ord. 11-484*

## § 6-30

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-30 (2026)

Reserved

## § 6-31 Additional exemptions by Board.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-31 (2026)

By rule or regulation, the Ethics Board may establish further exemptions from or modifications of this Part IV, as the Board considers necessary.

*History: Ord. 04-795*

## §§ 6-32 to 6-35

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-32 to 6-35 (2026)

Reserved